Let\'s Get One Thing Straight

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Let\'s Get One Thing Straight

Aug 05, 2008

7 comments

IF Favre comes back and is the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers in 2008, (and from recent reports, that seems like a long shot), and if the Packers don't go to, and win, the Super Bowl, Favre will be responsible for ruining the Packers for the foreseeable future.

Just so all the 'Bring Brett Back' people and I are on the same page...

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Comments (7)

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August 05, 2008 at 01:01 pm

Aaron, can you please elaborate your point a bit? How is he "ruining the Packers for the foreseeable future?"

PackerAaron

August 05, 2008 at 01:16 pm

Really? They've already thrown away a valuable second round pick (see SI re this: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/don_banks/08/04/packers/in...)

Then, what happens next offseason? Rodgers has one more year left and won't be back after 09, the one quarterback that McCarthy has groomed for the last 3 years to run his offense. Everyone likes to say 'Just groom Brohm' - but it's not that easy. Who knows how Brohm turns out? We know Rodgers can run the system. We saw evidence of it against Dallas. And this is all before even talking about Thompson's credibility in NFL circles after this debacle. He told Rodgers "You're the starting quarterback - no matter what." Um, unless you're not. How can any free agent look at the Packers as a desirable place to visit, much less sign with when the GM has no control over his own franchise?

August 05, 2008 at 01:27 pm

If your original post is ironic, meant to mock hard core Favrians, then I think it's well done.

But if you're serious, I think those fears are overstated. Giving Favre the job back straightaway is one thing, competition is another. Football players understand and respect competition. And assuming he loses out, Rodgers should also have a full season to prove himself next season. (Unless Favre does this again...) That should be some time to heal whatever wounds develop this year.

And I don't think this shows a lack of control over the franchise. It shows a lack of control over one particular player, perhaps the most famous active player in the league. Honestly, what damages management the most in this situation is probably their attempts to keep him retired. I think most players want to play and make money until they're washed up, and the idea of their team trying to keep them out of the league when they're still capable of performing well is probably pretty repellent.

PackerAaron

August 05, 2008 at 01:40 pm

"(Unless Favre does this again…)" - is there any doubt? ;)

August 05, 2008 at 02:01 pm

Aaron, the argument could be made that they should have drafted Brohm there even if Favre never retired. That was a solid value pick. One game in Dallas aside, we really don't know what Rodgers can do, not to mention he has been injury prone to boot. So investing a 2d Rd pick on a guy who could have potentially been a high 1st rounder a year ago was a good investment, imo.

And do you really think this hurts Thompson's credibility with potential free agents? I think you're grasping at sand here. I'm pretty sure the only thing a potential free agent cares about is $ signs. And if he were to consider this scenario, it can be written off as an aberration. If the NFL's all time TD, yardage, and wins leader, who also happened to win 3 MVPs and a Super Bowl with the team... oh yeah, and a guy who only had one season below .500, decides to change his mine, I don't think you can really fault the organization for welcoming him back with open arms.

So to recap, Brett has "ruined" the future of the franchise because his retirement caused us to draft one of the best college QBs in the 2nd round and because Thompson's credibility has taken a hit for welcoming back one of the best QBs of all time coming off of an MVP-like season.